RV Living in National Areas

[Mztizliz]

Hi everyone, thank you for the ad.

I joined as I just read several messages about the government cracking down on people who live in an RV versus someone who states they are recreational campers.

I bought my RV about six months ago and I’ve been on the road ever since. I haven’t stayed in a national park yet, but I have been putting together a long list of national parks and Forest especially forest, that I plan on staying in for the summer.

My question to you all is how serious is the government coming down on us and are people actually going to jail or being fined large amounts of money.

If this is happening how is everyone handling it? Thank you for your time and consideration.

 

[Jerrell]

Where are you hearing that from?

I've been full time in a van since 2018.

Every now and then there are unsubstantiated rumors, but I've never heard of anyone I know getting arrested for being where they legally can be.

One thing I know is that at the end of the summer, federal LEOs have encouraged folks on Mt Shasta to move on down the road. I generally feel this has more to do with winter coming on and less to do with harassment.

We just had about 150 rigs at a get together on some BLM by Joshua Tree in November (2024). Rangers came thru and made sure we knew we had to move on after two weeks. Anyone still there would get a ticket.

That said, I try to never acknowledge that I live in my vehicle to the powers that be. I'm always just on vacation, traveling thru, semi-retired, or some other true thing that can be said instead.

 

[KittyKat]

Hi everyone, thank you for the ad.

I joined as I just read several messages about the government cracking down on people who live in an RV versus someone who states they are recreational campers.

I bought my RV about six months ago and I’ve been on the road ever since. I haven’t stayed in a national park yet, but I have been putting together a long list of national parks and Forest especially forest, that I plan on staying in for the summer.

My question to you all is how serious is the government coming down on us and are people actually going to jail or being fined large amounts of money.

If this is happening how is everyone handling it? Thank you for your time and consideration.

It's a myth. There are limits to how long you can stay. Nobody has ever been thrown in jail unless they did something illegal, i.e vandalism, disorderly conduct, assault, etc. A lot of Walmarts have discontinued RV travelers parking in their lots because they turned into trailer parks and there was drinking and fights. As far as fines, same thing. You are only fined if you break the law.

 

[Gulysses3]

We spent several years living full time in our RV. It got difficult during Covid because some campgrounds closed, but other than that, there’s lots of cheap boon docking spots. Forest service campgrounds, BLM land, Long term visitor areas, etc. Good luck out there, and just follow the rules as they’re posted and you’ll be fine.

 

[Groundscore]

I haven't heard of people being harassed, sometimes told to move on by a ranger who's had it with everyone, but that's about it.

Mostly, keep up on the laws, keep your RV clean, and more importantly, your campsite clean and tidy, and look like the average RV'er and you should be just fine.